Minecraft:Java Edition guides/Alpha 1.0 releases

This guide is a simplified overview of all the changes in the Minecraft:Java Edition Alpha v1.0.x releases, which assumes at least some familiarity with Infdev releases.

Mobs

New

Minecraft:Cow	File:Cow JE2.png	Surface	Template:Drop	Can be milked.
Minecraft:Slime	File:Slime JE2 BE1.png	Underground	Template:Drop	Comes in 3 sizes. Larger slimes split into smaller slimes when killed.
Minecraft:Chicken	File:Chicken JE1 BE1.png	Surface	Template:Drop	Lays eggs.
Minecraft:Spider Jockey	File:Spider Jockey JE1.png	Dark places	Template:Drop Template:Drop	The first composite mob.

Changed

Minecraft:Hostile mobs

Template:Animate

Now have unique sounds instead of sharing the player's sounds.

Blocks

New

Minecraft:Redstone Ore	File:Redstone Ore JE1 BE1.png	Generates deep underground.	Pickaxe (iron or better)	Drops redstone dust.
Minecraft:Redstone Dust	Template:Animate	A block form of redstone dust.	Any	Transmits redstone power.
Minecraft:Redstone Torch	Template:Animate		Any	Powers redstone components.
Minecraft:Lever	File:Wall Lever (S) JE1.png		Any	Toggles redstone components on and off.
Minecraft:Button	File:Stone Wall Button (S) JE1.png		Pickaxe	Temporarily powers redstone components when pressed.
Minecraft:Stone Pressure Plate	File:Stone Pressure Plate JE1.png		Pickaxe	Powers redstone components while stepped on.
Minecraft:Wooden Pressure Plate	File:Oak Pressure Plate JE1.png		Pickaxe	Powers redstone components while stepped on.
Minecraft:Iron Door	File:Iron Door JE1 BE1.png		Pickaxe	Can only be opened by a redstone signal.
Minecraft:Ice	File:Ice JE3 BE5.png	Generates in Minecraft:winter mode worlds.	Pickaxe	Covers the water in winter worlds. Water exposed to snowfall will freeze.
Minecraft:Snow	File:Snow (layers 1) JE1 BE1.png	Generates in winter mode worlds.	Shovel	Covers the ground in winter worlds. Flat surfaces exposed to snowfall will accumulate snow.
Minecraft:Snow Block	File:Snow Block JE1 BE1.png		Shovel	A building block only obtainable in winter mode.
Minecraft:Cactus	File:Cactus JE2 BE1.png	Generates on sand.	Any	Grows more cactus on top of itself. Damages entities that touch it.
Minecraft:Reeds	File:Sugar Cane JE1 BE1.png	Generate on grass next to water.	Any	Grow more reeds on top of themselves. Can be crafted into paper.
Minecraft:Clay block	File:Clay JE1 BE1.png	Generates in and around water.	Shovel	Drops clay.
Minecraft:Jukebox	File:Jukebox JE1 BE1.png		Axe	Can play music discs.
Minecraft:Fence	File:Oak Fence (EW) JE1.png		Axe	Cannot be jumped over.

Changed

Minecraft:Lava	File:Lava JE8.gif	Can now set fire to nearby flammable blocks.Template:Verify
Minecraft:Bricks	File:Bricks JE2 BE1.png	Texture changed. Are now craftable:
Minecraft:Bookshelf	File:Bookshelf JE1.png	Is now craftable:
Sign	File:Oak Wall Sign (S) JE1 BE1.png	Can now be placed on walls.
Furnace	File:Lit Furnace (S) JE1.png	Lit furnaces now drop normal furnaces instead of lit furnaces when mined.
Minecraft:Monster Spawner	File:Spawner JE1.png	No longer drops itself when mined.

Items

New

Minecraft:Redstone Dust	File:Redstone Dust JE1 BE1.png	Drops from redstone ore.	Transmits redstone power.
Minecraft:Snowball	File:Snowball JE1 BE1.png	Drops from snow and snow blocks mined with a shovel.	Can be thrown or crafted into snow blocks.
Minecraft:Leather	File:Leather JE1 BE1.png	Drops from cows.	Can be crafted into leather armor.
Minecraft:Milk Bucket	File:Milk Bucket JE1 BE1.png	Obtained by using a bucket on a cow.	Does not yet have a use.
Minecraft:Paper	File:Paper JE1 BE1.png		Can be crafted into books.
Minecraft:Book	File:Book JE1 BE1.png		Can be crafted into bookshelves.
Minecraft:Clay	File:Clay Ball JE1 BE1.png	Drops from clay blocks.	Can be cooked into bricks or crafted into clay blocks.
Minecraft:Brick	File:Brick JE1 BE1.png		Used to craft brick blocks.
Minecraft:Slimeball	File:Slimeball JE1 BE1.png	Drops from slimes.	Does not yet have a use.
Minecraft:Egg	File:Egg JE1 BE1.png	Chickens randomly lay eggs.	Does not yet have a use.
Minecraft:Music Disc	Template:Animate	Found in dungeon chests.	Can be played in a jukebox.

Changed

Minecraft:Arrow	File:Arrow (item) JE1 BE1.png	Now crafted with flint instead of iron ingot.
Leather Minecraft:armor	Template:Animate	Now crafted with leather instead of wool. Renamed from "cloth" armor to "leather" armor.
Wooden Minecraft:door	File:Oak Door (item) JE2 BE1.png	Has a new inventory icon.
Wooden and cobblestone Minecraft:stairs	Template:Animate	Inventory icon is now a (bugged) 3d model instead of a flat texture.

Non-mob entities

New

Minecraft:Boat	File:Oak Boat JE1.png		Template:Drop Template:Drop	Can be used to cross water.
Minecraft:Minecart with furnace	File:Minecart with Furnace JE1.png		Template:Drop Template:Drop	Can be used to push minecarts.
Minecraft:Minecart with chest	File:Minecart with Chest JE1.png		Template:Drop Template:Drop	Can be used to transport items.

Structures

Changed

Minecraft:Oak tree

File:Oak JE5.png

Can now sometimes generate in larger and more complex shapes.

Gameplay

New

Executable client	Before this version, Minecraft was only playable through a browser.
Minecraft:Cave sounds	Added cave ambience.